Ruckus has launched CloudManager for Xclaim, a subscription-free cloud service to manage the Xclaim family of wi-fi access points.

These entry-level enterprise wi-fi products are aimed at businesses trying to bridge the gap between consumer products lacking key features and more costly enterprise solutions.

Key features include remote management through any wired, wi-fi or cellular internet connection and management of multiple sites from a single login. The service can support an unlimited number of Xclaim access points and also stores a week of access point data that is accessible at any moment.

In addition, CloudManager brings access via any client and backwards compatibility with existing deployments of Xclaim access points.

The product will be available in June 2015.

"CloudManager represents a major, strategic upgrade to our Xclaim portfolio," said Biju Nair, VP and co-GM of the Xclaim product line. "We have had terrific feedback about the quality and performance of Xclaim access points since their launch last fall, and now CloudManager adds a significant boost to the management and control flexibility, something both our channel partners and customers have been craving for.

Nair added: "We believe it will provide significant opportunities to further drive adoption in businesses looking for a robust, cost-effective, business-class WiFi solution."

Rohit Mehra, vice president, Network Infrastructure, IDC, commented: "The emerging cloud-managed wireless LAN delivery model is leading many enterprise network managers to evaluate if they can benefit from this architecture.

"With an ever-growing list of requirements and applications for enterprise networks, cloud-managed wireless LAN may be a strategic solution for some small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the distributed enterprise realm. Network managers in this space should consider cloud-managed WiFi models like CloudManager for Xclaim alongside the alternatives."